Effects of silver addition in zinc oxide nanoparticles on films of HMSPP/SEBS against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli contamination

Abstract

In this research we decided to analyze the addition of silver (Ag°) on zinc oxide (ZnO) utilizing two nanoparticles: the synthesized zinc oxide-doped-silver nanoparticles (ZnO/Ag_Lab) utilizing the zinc nitrate as metal precursor for ZnO and silver nitrate as metal precursor for Ag°; and the commercial nanoparticle ZnO/Ag. For the study of application of the nanoparticles, they were processed in the form of films and the polymer utilized was the blend of HMSPP (high melt strength polypropylene) and styrene-ethylene/butadiene-styrene. For the study of nanoparticles, they were submitted to biocide tests against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Escherichia coli (ATCC8739) and XRD (X-Ray Diffraction). The XRD analysis results indicated, in both of nanoparticles, with the presence of wurtzite phase of ZnO, being that on the commercial nanoparticles the intensity of peak was higher than that of synthesized one, on other hand, the peaks attributed to Ag°, were more intense in the synthesized nanoparticle.